Tatooine (ROTJ)

According to John Knoll in his book “Creating the Worlds of Star Wars, 365 days”, the scene of C-3PO and R2-D2 approaching Jabba’s palace door was filmed in Death Valley’s Twenty Mule Team Canyon in December 1982.

Located at the point where the Gila and Colorado Rivers converge, Yuma originated as a major transportation hub, as goods came from the West coast and were shipped up river.

Yuma has been the best site for crossing the Colorado River – Spanish conquistadors travelled this route in the 1500’s and the only Ocean to Ocean bridge was constructed here in 1920, linking the Eastern U.S. and the West Coast.
Yuma is the Southernmost community along Arizona’s West Coast.

The cast and crew endured temperatures of 120 degrees. Buttercup’s spectacular Imperial Dunes provided the perfect backdrop for the creatures of Tatooine.

Rather than go back to Tunisia, Lucas and crew stayed closer to home in the deserts of Yuma. Production was kept secret trying not to let too much out about the latest Star Wars sequel.

This is where the fake movie name “BLUE HARVEST – Horror beyond imagination” comes from. Cast, crew and call sheets all hoped to contain the media frenzy, but a group of dune buggy enthusiasts got a closer look and saw some tell-tale SW references.
And then the fans are told its “Revenge of the Jedi”.